महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-11, verse-17

परित्राणं च भीतानां सर्पाणां ब्राह्मणादपि ।
तपोवीर्यबलोपेताद्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगात् ।
आस्तीकाद्द्विजमुख्याद्वै सर्पसत्रे द्विजोत्तम ॥१७॥

17. paritrāṇaṁ ca bhītānāṁ sarpāṇāṁ brāhmaṇādapi ,
tapovīryabalopetādvedavedāṅgapāragāt ,
āstīkāddvijamukhyādvai sarpasatre dvijottama.

17. paritrāṇam ca bhītānām sarpāṇām
brāhmaṇāt api | tapovīryabalopetāt
vedavedāṅgapāragāt | āstīkāt
dvijamukhyāt vai sarpasatre dvijottama

17. O best of twice-born, in the serpent sacrifice, protection for the frightened serpents was brought about by Āstīka himself, even though he was a Brāhmaṇa. He was the chief among the twice-born, endowed with ascetic power and strength, and a master of the Vedas and Vedāngas.

17. וכן הצלת הנחשים הנבהלים בידי בְּרַהְמִין, אָאסְטִיקַה, מעולה הבְּרַהְמִינִים, בעל כוח העוצמה הרוחנית ובקי בוֵדוֹת ובוֵדָאנְגוֹת, בטקס וודי של הנחשים, הו מעולה הבְּרַהְמִינִים.

Words meanings summery:

• परित्राणम् (paritrāṇam) - the act of protecting or saving (protection, rescue)

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• भीतानाम् (bhītānām) - of the frightened serpents (of the frightened ones)

• सर्पाणाम् (sarpāṇām) - of the serpents (of serpents, snakes)

• ब्राह्मणात् (brāhmaṇāt) - by a Brāhmaṇa (referring to Āstīka as the agent of protection) (from a Brāhmaṇa)

• अपि (api) - even though, despite being (emphasizing the preceding word 'brāhmaṇāt') (also, even, indeed)

• तपोवीर्यबलोपेतात् (tapovīryabalopetāt) - by one endowed with ascetic power and strength (referring to Āstīka) (from one endowed with ascetic power and strength)

• वेदवेदाङ्गपारगात् (vedavedāṅgapāragāt) - by one who has mastered the Vedas and Vedāngas (referring to Āstīka) (from one who has mastered the Vedas and Vedāngas)

• आस्तीकात् (āstīkāt) - by Āstīka (from Āstīka)

• द्विजमुख्यात् (dvijamukhyāt) - by the chief among the twice-born (referring to Āstīka) (from the chief of twice-born)

• वै (vai) - indeed (emphatic) (indeed, certainly)

• सर्पसत्रे (sarpasatre) - in the great serpent sacrifice (of Janamejaya) (in the serpent sacrifice)

• द्विजोत्तम (dvijottama) - O best of Brahmins (the person being addressed by the speaker) (O best of twice-born)

Words meanings and morphology

परित्राणम् (paritrāṇam) - the act of protecting or saving (protection, rescue)

(noun)

neuter, singular of paritrāṇa

paritrāṇa - protection, rescue, deliverance

action noun

from pari-trā (to protect)

Prefixes: pari+trā

Root: trā (class 2)

Note: Here functions as a nominal predicate implying 'was accomplished'.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

भीतानाम् (bhītānām) - of the frightened serpents (of the frightened ones)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of bhīta

bhīta - frightened, afraid

past participle

from root bhī (to fear)

Root: bhī (class 3)

Note: Modifies 'sarpāṇām'.

सर्पाणाम् (sarpāṇām) - of the serpents (of serpents, snakes)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of sarpa

sarpa - serpent, snake

ब्राह्मणात् (brāhmaṇāt) - by a Brāhmaṇa (referring to Āstīka as the agent of protection) (from a Brāhmaṇa)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - Brahmin, one belonging to the priestly class

Note: Here, used to indicate the agent 'by a Brāhmaṇa' (Āstīka) rather than source of danger.

अपि (api) - even though, despite being (emphasizing the preceding word 'brāhmaṇāt') (also, even, indeed)

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphasizes that Āstīka, despite being a Brāhmaṇa (like those performing the sacrifice), provided protection.

तपोवीर्यबलोपेतात् (tapovīryabalopetāt) - by one endowed with ascetic power and strength (referring to Āstīka) (from one endowed with ascetic power and strength)

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of tapovīryabalopeta

tapovīryabalopeta - endowed with asceticism, valor, and strength

Compound type : bahuvrihi (tapas+vīrya+bala+upeta)

• tapas – asceticism, austerity, religious penance
  noun (neuter)
• vīrya – valor, heroism, power, strength
  noun (neuter)
• bala – strength, power, force
  noun (neuter)
• upeta – endowed with, possessed of, furnished with
  adjective
  past participle
  from upa-i (to go near, attain)
  Prefix: upa
  Root: i (class 2)

Note: Refers to Āstīka.

वेदवेदाङ्गपारगात् (vedavedāṅgapāragāt) - by one who has mastered the Vedas and Vedāngas (referring to Āstīka) (from one who has mastered the Vedas and Vedāngas)

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of vedavedāṅgapāraga

vedavedāṅgapāraga - one who has crossed to the other shore of (mastered) the Vedas and Vedāngas

Compound type : tatpurusha (veda+vedāṅga+pāraga)

• veda – Veda (sacred texts)
  noun (masculine)
• vedāṅga – Vedānga (auxiliary science of the Vedas)
  noun (neuter)
• pāraga – one who has reached the other shore, master, proficient
  adjective
  from pāra-ga (to go to the other side)
  Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Refers to Āstīka.

आस्तीकात् (āstīkāt) - by Āstīka (from Āstīka)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of āstīka

āstīka - Āstīka (proper name of a sage)

Note: Explicitly names the agent of protection.

द्विजमुख्यात् (dvijamukhyāt) - by the chief among the twice-born (referring to Āstīka) (from the chief of twice-born)

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of dvijamukhya

dvijamukhya - chief among the twice-born (Brahmins)

Compound type : tatpurusha (dvija+mukhya)

• dvija – twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya; often specifically Brahmin)
  noun (masculine)
• mukhya – chief, principal, foremost
  adjective

Note: Refers to Āstīka.

वै (vai) - indeed (emphatic) (indeed, certainly)

(indeclinable)

सर्पसत्रे (sarpasatre) - in the great serpent sacrifice (of Janamejaya) (in the serpent sacrifice)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of sarpasatra

sarpasatra - serpent sacrifice (a specific ritual)

Compound type : tatpurusha (sarpa+satra)

• sarpa – serpent, snake
  noun (masculine)
• satra – a large or continuous sacrifice
  noun (neuter)

द्विजोत्तम (dvijottama) - O best of Brahmins (the person being addressed by the speaker) (O best of twice-born)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of dvijottama

dvijottama - best among the twice-born

Compound type : tatpurusha (dvija+uttama)

• dvija – twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya; often specifically Brahmin)
  noun (masculine)
• uttama – best, highest, supreme
  adjective

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